Archive for the ‘just for fun’ Category

SewThankful Crew Rail Runner Field Trip to Santa Fe

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

Jeff and I recently took the boys up to Santa Fe on the Rail Runner Express Train.  It was a wonderful afternoon and a delightful experience with the boys.  I’ve included some pictures below. If you click the image, it should open to a larger image in your internet browser window.

We thoroughly enjoyed riding on the upper level of the train, watching the New Mexico landscape whiz by.
Jared, age 13, contemplates the train ride and the day about to unfold…

 

Upon arriving at the Santa Fe Depot, we got off the train and walked to the Plaza.
Santa Fe – The Plaza
We walked through some shops and galleries, then decided to take a quick tour of the New Mexico History Museum where they allowed photography, but no flash.
Museum Courtyard Fountain
Museum Courtyard – Corner View
Here are just a few of the really spectacular pieces we enjoyed:

Junk Mail Fan Dress (Wrap Skirt) by Nancy Judd

This piece was made in 2000 from catalogs, solicitations and newspaper ads sewn on to a skirt made from canvas scraps.

Eco Flamenco Dress by Nancy Judd was made in 2011.

Cereal boxes painted with recycled paint became cascades of ruffles that contain over 5,000 eco-pledges–commitments of actions that people will take to help the environment. Ruffles cover a dress made from parachute scraps.

On the left – Escavada Black-on-White Jar, maker unknown. Circa 925- 1125 CE
On the right: Tularosa Black-on-white Jar, Circa 1100-1200 CE.

Both jars are clay and pigment.
Tile Chairs — Jared & Jacob enjoy a little break. Notice the kitty on the side of Jacob’s chair.

I hope you enjoyed sharing part of our excursion.

2011 Havf a Heart Christmas Ornament Sewing pattern

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

Click here for the instructions in PDF format for quick and easy printing – requires a new or updated version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Click here for the pattern piece(s) – requires a new or updated version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

 Havf a Heart fabric ornament sewing pattern

Havf a Heart™

Heart Ornament or pincushion in 2 sizes

©Tracy L. Chapman & Sew Thankful Inc. December 2011.  All rights reserved.

Permission to copy and distribute this complimentary pattern at no charge to others, for personal or NON-PROFIT use, for guild and group projects is granted provided all copyright information and references to Sew Thankful are kept in tact one each and every pattern copy printed/distributed. Permission is also granted to individual crafters (doing their own sewing themselves)  to make reasonable quantities of finished items to sell at individual craft fairs, boutiques, etc.

If quilt or sewing shops wish to share this pattern with their customers, permission is granted provided that a COMPLETE printed copy of this entire pattern with all copyright information and all references to www.sewthankful.com  is included along with the finished item at NO CHARGE for the pattern itself other than a nominal fee to cover cost of paper and toner. Pattern may be included in a prepared kit that is sold , subject to all the previous requirements.

For any other use, please contact tracy@sewthankful.com to obtain the appropriate permission and/or licensing.

Use of this pattern is voluntary. End user assumes all risk. Neither Tracy L. Chapman nor Sew Thankful Inc. shall have  any liability with respect to loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this project.   SEW THANKFUL and the SEW THANKFUL logo are a federally registered Trademark/Service Mark of Sew Thankful Inc.

Sign up for the FREE eNews at www.sewthankful.com for notice of future complimentary projects.

Make your ornament as plain or fancy as you desire.

Make it plain! You can use a single fabric (all 4 hearts the same color) or go scrappy with all 4 hearts different fabrics.  Make it fancy! You can make a truly special, customized ornament by using a solid fabric as one side (half) of the heart. Use the plain side as your canvas!  Embroider a name, date or special message. Or draw, paint, write, appliqué, embellish with beads, buttons, silk ribbon or hand embroidery, or other creative, personal, artful ideas.

Please read entire pattern carefully all the way through at least once before you cut or sew.

Two Sizes – Finished Measurements:

  • Large – approximately 4.75” high x 5” wide, depending on how full you stuff it
  • Small – approximately 3.5” high x 3.5” wide, depending on how full you stuff it

Materials required for EACH ornament: 

Large

Light Fabric: 12” x 6”

Medium to Dark Fabric: 12” x 6”

Polyfil  or cotton  stuffing such as Sweet Dreams by Quilters Dream

Batting Scrap: 6” x 6” (thin, flat cotton batting or poly fleece preferred)

Template Plastic

Ruler or straight edge for marking

Pencil

Thread

Hand needle

Awl

Ribbon (silk, organdy, satin, etc.) you can use up to .5” width if it is a thin ribbon such as organdy or silk. .25” widths are recommended for bulkier ribbons

Optional: Sew Easy Tweezers or Crochet hook

Small

Light Fabric: 9” x 4.5”

Medium to Dark Fabric: 4.5” x 4.5”

Polyfil  or cotton  stuffing such as Sweet Dreams by Quilters Dream

Batting Scrap: 4.5” x 4.5” (thin, flat cotton batting or poly fleece preferred)

Template Plastic and

Ruler or straight edge for marking

Pencil

Thread

Hand needle

Awl

Ribbon (silk, organdy, satin, etc.) you can use up to .5” width if it is a thin ribbon such as organdy or silk. .25” widths are recommended for bulkier ribbons

Optional: Sew Easy Tweezers or Crochet hook

*Note: Depending on the width of fabric, you should be able to get 3 +  Large or 4 + Small ornaments from .25 yard of light + .25 yard of medium to dark fabric . Directional fabrics may yield less. You may also choose to make the ornament from a single fabric or from 4 different fabrics for a scrappy look. I recommend making one with contrasting fabrics first so you get a good feel for the construction process.

Click here for the project instructions in PDF format for quick and easy printing – requires a new or updated version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Click here for the pattern piece(s) – requires a new or updated version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2011

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011

My dear husband, Jeff, recently decided to take up road bicycling with me so we could experience some wonderful adventures together.  I have done a fair amount of bicycle riding, but I’ve never seen the balloons by bike.  So…

This morning we took  a nice 14 mile ride and here are a few pics:

Hot Air Balloon Deflating 

Balloons Galore

Jeff...and hot air balloons in the background

Jeff on his bike

It’s really amazing to see so many balloons in the air all at once. It still excites me after more than 15 years of seeing it and being around them.  I have to say that seeing them by bike was even more incredible than I thought it would be. It’s hard to explain the glorious, peaceful, graceful beauty…just makes me happy to be alive and celebrate life.

My plan is to get more close ups of the balloons this week.  Let’s all pray for continued good weather so the balloons can launch, everybody can stay safe and I can hopefully get some great pics to share.

SewThankful Blog Drawing/Giveaway week of 8/28/11

Sunday, August 28th, 2011

NEW!  SewThankful Blog Drawing/Giveaway
NO purchase necessary!  You have nothing to lose, but you can’t win if you don’t enter.

Tell us why you love being a Lazy Girl.  If you’re not yet a Lazy Girl, tell us why you want to become a Lazy Girl.

Simply COMMENT on this blog entry for a chance to win a Lazy Girl Designs Suzi Purse Insert pattern.

  • Limit 1 entry per person.  You MAY comment as many times as you like, but only one comment per person will be counted.
  • Qualifying entries must include a valid email address (in the comment form next to ‘mail’ it is a required field but will not be published).
  • Winner will be selected by random drawing.
  • Spam entries will be determined, disqualified and deleted at our discretion.
  • Qualifying entries will be accepted until 8AM Eastern Time on Wednesday, 8/31/11.   Drawing will be held shortly thereafter on Wednesday, 8/31/11.
  • Winner will be notified by email immediately after drawing and will be announced in next weekend’s eNews and on our facebook page.
  • Upon notification, winner must provide us with a current mailing address so we can send the Lazy Girl Suzi Purse Insert & More pattern.
  • Prize is ‘as offered’ and has no cash value for ‘return or exchange’.

SEW…tell us: 

Why do you love being a Lazy Girl?  If you’re not yet a Lazy Girl, why do you want to become a Lazy Girl?

If you want to receive notice when we do future drawings/giveaways, please make sure to sign up for our FREE SewThankful eNews.

 REMINDER:  I moderate all responses to protect readers from the spam/porn bots.  Yes, we really do receive many spam and porn posting attempts that get through our security settings every day.  If you make a comment after hours (i.e., after 7PM Eastern Time M-F or over the weekend), it may take several hours for me to approve the comment.  Thank you for your understanding and patience.

New Mexico Sunrise and Walking Stick Bug Surprise

Sunday, August 14th, 2011

Beautiful blessings in plain sight.  We all have *those* days where everything feels off or seems to go wrong.  But, have you ever have had days when everything seemed to be a wonderful, beautiful surprise?  Sometimes all we need to do is slow down, breathe and take a look around. :-)

I was exceedingly blessed to witness a most spectacular sunrise last Thursday morning.  AND I happened to have my camera with me so I was able to snap a few pics to share.  Click the images to open larger images. Use your browser back button to return to this page.

New Mexico Sunrise

New Mexico Sunrise #3

New Mexico sunrise #3

Later this very same day, I found this little treasure:

Phasmida - Walking Stick Bug underside

Looking through a window at the underside of a Phasmida (Walking Stick Bug).  It’s about 5-6 inches long not including the super long antennae.

Phasmida - Walking Stick Bug

On the outside of the window (it’s highly reflective!). Gorgeous, subtle colors.  Such a treat to see this amazing creature.

Now…how about you tell me about your blessings in plain sight?  :-D